Ted

Edward “Ted” Flask is the narrator and protagonist of the novel Lily and the Octopus. A single, gay man who is forty-two years of age and the owner of Lily, Ted is still reeling from his breakup eighteen months before with Jeffrey. Ted has been avoiding life, taking comfort in Lily, and fearing the future. When Lily develops a tumor, Ted is both horrified and angered, vowing to do whatever it takes to save Lily. A series of fanciful constructs and imaginings in which Ted replaces the tumor with an octopus enable Ted to help deal with the situation (in addition to his therapist). As Lily’s life runs down, Ted remembers his past with Lily and takes to heart the lessons that Lily has taught him–including giving spontaneous affection and living in the moment. When at last Ted is forced to put Lily to sleep, he...